CASE STUDY: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS BUYOUT

Case Study: Universal Studios Buyout The Scenario: A large public company decided to have an Award Function for 2600 people in Orlando, Florida. Our Team, after an extensive search, secured Universal Studios for a private function. The Result: • Full Buyout of Universal Studios Orlando: Guests were treated to a private evening in Universal Orlando. • Food stations for a full dinner were set in "New York" Area • PE Staff were provided throughout Park to support guests needs • 6 stations of entertainment- including a 9 piece band were placed throughout Universal • EMT was secured for "just-in-case" • Credentials were created for all guests • Pre-event announcements, invitations and registration was provided • RSVP services and confirmations were handled • Transportation and Parking was provided • We designed a theatrical opening that included key executives to "Kick-Off" the event The Outcome: Guests were introduced to a once in a lifetime private experience that highlighted the award recipients while recognizing the hard work of all of the other staff/participants.

INCENTIVE GIFTS

With the struggling economy and budgets constantly being cut, companies are eliminating gift giving right away without thinking through the ways that it could impact their business and staff. Incentive gifts have always been implemented in a company's budget. They are usually used to keep employee's morale up and enhance performance in the workplace. Unfortunately, with the struggling economy and budgets constantly being cut, companies are eliminating gift giving right away without thinking through the ways that it could impact their business and staff. To make sure they can keep their employees motivated, companies should not remove their incentive programs due to the economy, they should tweak it instead to conform to the new economy. One way incentive programs can be changed is by giving fewer gifts and spread them throughout the year. Knowing that there will only be a select few recognized, staff members will have a bigger push to prove themselves, which will result in improved performance, sales boosts, and better customer service. Being creative and finding inexpensive gift ideas is also a good way businesses can modify their budget. One way you can buy affordable gifts and help others is by buying them through The Helping Hand Rewards. According to Incentive Magazine, the Helping Hands Rewards "markets items to corporations that are made by underprivileged or at-risk women and men in the U.S. and less developed countries." Not only do these companies help people who are unable to get hired by anyone else due to previous work or legal records, they help them build up their resumes, teach them how to improve their work ethics and prepare them for future jobs. Products from the vendors include anything from candle sets and jewelry to spa baskets, and gourmet food items that come from all over the world. Another easy way companies can reward their employees is by giving out gift cards. Popular gift cards from retailers and restaurants around where the company is located can not only help boost the area's economy, but people are more likely to associate it with a gift and not think of it as cash. So instead of getting rid of gifts from your company budget, just be creative. Awarding inexpensive gifts can still guarantee a good work environment while implementing a condensed budget.

RECOGNITION JUNKIES

Recognition Is Becoming the Key to Success for Many Companies today in the Face of an Economic Downturn "People are recognition junkies…No one can ever get too much," according to Derek Irvine, chief marketing officer of Globoforce. Recognition is becoming the key to success for many companies today in the face of an economic downturn. The state of the economy may have sparked a new form of awareness for management teams to show appreciation for their employees. Instead of offering employees bonuses that they cannot afford, companies are beginning to realize that non-monetary forms of motivation are just as beneficial, if not better. Reinforcement and incentives are the things that mold behavior and create positive change. When employees are praised for their accomplishments and they believe their work is being recognized, good things happen. Unconventional forms of motivation are creating positive change and becoming a win-win for both the company and the employee. However, it is important for management teams to realize that all of their employees are different and they must come up with "creative ways" to motivate their diverse work force on a personal level. When people enjoy working for you, you never need to worry about underperformance. Often times, monetary incentives are overlooked and only help short term goals. Paragon Events offers full service destination support for all of your motivational needs, whether you would like to plan a day trip to the beach, an adventure to a theme park, or a night out on the town for your employees and their families, these creative incentives will provide your employees with an experience they will not forget. At Paragon Events, we understand that appreciated employees increase productivity! When employees are motivated to perform in a certain way, management will constantly see the results they expect. It is easy for an employee to do something right one time, but in order to maintain a strong and consistent workforce, recognition is the number one motivator.

MAKE YOUR NEXT FLIGHT EASIER

8 Essential Tips to Make Your Next Flight Easier, by Harry R. Weber (AP airlines writer)Airport VIP lounges are not restricted to just members. Several airlines offer one day or monthly passes. 2) Don’t fret the annoying checked bag fee when bringing strollers and infant car seats. Airline personnel will put those items on the plane for you for free when you get to your gate, and they will not count against your carry-on bag allowance. 3) You don’t have to pay big bucks to fly in business class. Several airlines offer deeply discounted rates on upgrades to business class on the day of travel if there are seats in the front cabin still available. 4) You don’t have to pay big bucks to fly period. Rick Seaney of farecompare.com says the best time to shop domestic tickets is Tuesday afternoon because airlines typically file sales Monday evening and other airlines match Tuesday through noon. 5) Don’t worry about printing out your boarding pass at home. At some airports and with some airlines, travelers with Web-enable mobile devices like BlackBerry of iPhone can download their boarding passes, then hand over the devices for scanning by federal security screeners and airline gate agents. 6) Traveling doesn’t have to be a hassle. If you fly at off-peak times like in the early morning hours on Tuesdays, Wednesday, or Saturdays, flights are less full, and often the lines at security are much shorter. 7) Speeding through security is easy if you pack certain items in your carry-on bags before reaching a checkpoint. 8) If you’ve ever wondered how close you are to your destination or how long the security line is at your airport, you don’t have to be in the dark. You can track your online by entering the flight number at flightaware.com

HOW THE MORIKAMI MUSEUM CAN HELP YOU GROW YOUR BUSINESS

Research consistently shows that an investment in arts and culture benefits the community. The investment can also create a positive impact on a corporations brand position, image, and revenue stream. I recently was reading the Morikami Museum’s Spring 2010 Newsletter. It had a very interesting article that I thought I would share. It reads as follows: Research consistently shows that an investment in arts and culture benefits the community. The investment can also create a positive impact on a corporations brand position, image, and revenue stream. EXPOSURE The Morikami welcomes over 170,000 visitors each year. Some of our signature festivals and events draw a crowd of over 7,000 people in one day! Few facilities can boast this level of exposure. We can show you our demographic research to help you decide which events, programs or time of year would benefit your business. When you need to reach a select clientele, your audience is within our reach. The exposure will help you build your brand position and show the value you place on community involvement and quality of life. BOOST EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY Employees are most productive when they are happy and healthy. The challenge is how to keep employees at the top of their game when the job demands more with fewer resources. There are clear benefits to employers who choose to invest in employee wellness programs. These include decreased corporate health costs, reduced absenteeism, maximized employee effectiveness, increased morale, and enhanced corporate image and retention, and an improved bottom line. How can the Morikami help? Our “Stroll for Well-being” program, developed with FAU’s Lynn College of Nursing, is proven to alleviate low levels of stress and depression. The feedback we have received is overwhelmingly positive! Volunteer committees are another way to engage employees in the community and provide them with an opportunity to share their skills and grow their network. From business development t marketing, finance and operations, we have committees that are in search of professional guidance. This is a wonderful way for employees to connect with other professional while working to better our community. MEANINGFUL CLIENT INCENTIVES Corporate memberships and sponsorships offer complimentary admission to the Morikami and free or discounted tickets to special events. What better way to reward your clients than to treat them to a memorable day or event at our museum. With over 100 programs each year, we are confidant we can identify the activities that meet the interests of your company’s stakeholders.

THE REAL RULES OF NETWORKING

Now, as we all know, networking is a hugely integral part of any business. It’s about making connections and keeping those connections growing. You can network with anyone from your dog groomer to a high level CEO (if you’re lucky enough to meet one!) Now, as we all know, networking is a hugely integral part of any business. It’s about making connections and keeping those connections growing. You can network with anyone from your dog groomer to a high level CEO (if you’re lucky enough to meet one!) Everyone knows the typical version of “Networking Tips,” dress for success, have a firm handshake, don’t monopolize the conversation, etc., but to most people these are pretty much common sense. Here are a couple of things you may NOT have thought about in regards to networking. Here are some tips to keep your mind open to networking in unexpected places. 1. You can network anywhere, anytime, with anyone. You never know who you’re going to meet or who someone you meet might know. Be open to opportunities whenever and wherever they may arise. 2. Looks can be deceiving. Just because someone isn’t dressed to the 9’s, doesn’t mean that you aren’t a useful connection to one  another. 3. Networking can be done anywhere. At a specialized “mixer” or at your kids soccer game. Always keep yourself open. 4. It’s not always about what someone can do for you. Pay it forward and at some point it will come back to you. It’s better to be   owed a favor than to owe one! 5. Be approachable and friendly. Whenever you step out of your house you never know who you could meet, so be friendly and be someone people want to talk to. 6. Don’t tune out because someone is in a different field than you. Many people have multiple needs in their businesses and may be able to recommend you to a client or friend. 7. Don’t assume. Assumptions lead to missed opportunities, and no one likes that! These are just a few tips to keep in mind. Whenever you’re out, treat everyone you meet as if they’re a future business opportunity, you never know who you might meet!

IS MEXICO THE NEXT GENERATION?

With new meeting rooms and a 25,300 sq ft convention centre, it is easy to see why Huatulco, Mexico is the new hot spot for company meetings and teambuilding sessions. There is always something for everyone here. “Today’s meeting trends are boutique hotels, designer resorts, modern art and architecture” states Prevue magazine. In the heart of Huatulco, Mexico is beautiful, sparkling Tandolunda Bay. Tandolunda Bay is a lovely spot where the most sophisticated resorts are set along the coastline. A former fishing village, this quiet and laid back nine-bay region preserves and promotes an authentic Mexican experience. With the Mexican Pipeline (Puerto Escondido), snorkeling, turtle releases and regional specialties, it’s hard not to see why the masses are coming to this funky market town for company meeting. There are several resorts in the area that cater to such company meetings, one of the most exciting being Hotel Quinta Real Huatulco, which is poised right on the hillside of Huatulco. Here, groups can rent multiple catamarans for up to three hundred people and teambuilding sailboat regattas can hold up to one hundred and fifty people. “It’s great because it’s the first time for many people to learn how to sail a boat on their own,” says sales manager Susana Goche. “They have more fun when they’re actually holding the sails and steering the boat. ”Planners for company meetings “often request excursions that include interaction with the locals, such as the Amazing Farming Race and the Jeep Rally to San Sebastian tour. The Amazing Race is when participants visit different working ranches and learn how to saddle horses and ride them, and play games where they run and catch chickens and rabbits. In the Jeep Rally to San Sebastian tour, groups are divided up to walk around the mountain village, where no one speaks English, and ask a series of prescribed questions. The quickest group back with the correct answers wins.” (Dawna L. Robertson, Prevue Magazine) With new meeting rooms and a 25,300 sq ft convention centre, it is easy to see why Huatulco, Mexico is the new hot spot for company meetings and teambuilding sessions. There is always something for everyone here.